chemical formula

This term refers specifically to the symbolic representation of a substance's composition. It is distinct from a structural formula, which illustrates the spatial arrangement of atoms and the bonds between them. While a chemical formula provides the stoichiometry, it does not necessarily convey the geometry of the molecule.

In academic and professional chemistry, the term is used with high precision. It is almost always used in a technical register, appearing in textbooks, laboratory reports, and scientific journals to define the identity of a compound.